Saturday, 7 July 2012

Back in 1976 when I came to live in the United States all my ‘phone calls to England were via the operator.

Indeed, I had to “book” operator calls at Christmastide.

I would call ATT&T a few weeks before Christmas Day, and ATT&T would assign me a time and day for my Christmas ‘phone call to my family.

Then came direct dialing, which , in its day, was a huge and welcome technological advance.

But “direct dialling” was nothing in comparison with today’s links.

Thanks to Skype I have had three recent and inexpensive conversations: with my friends Joe and Deanne R in Granby, MA; with my friend Joe S in London, and with my good sister Maureen on her birthday. Oh such joy when these connections are so simple.

Skype also enables me to have frequent conversations with my youngest and favourite brother Martyn.

And thanks to Facebook I am in touch with three of my cousins (Janet, Chris, and Kippy), and with a handful of my nieces and nephews.

Indeed, I am more connected with these good nieces and nephews than I ever could have imagined.
(I have eight siblings, and nineteen nieces/nephews.)

These connections are more than important. They are VITAL
.
I suppose that this is why I long for heaven – a state of being in which all of these connections find their perfection.

I am not so sure about the reality of heaven, (maybe yes, maybe no).

But whether or not there is a heavenI am grateful for this deep ninstinct to connect.

Thursday, 5 July 2012

Astrid Nicosia was a parishioner when I was the Vicar at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Chicopee, MA. (1980-1984). She, born in Norway, was a delightful, sweet, gracious and deeply intuitive woman.

Her husband Dominic Nicosia was born in Sicily. He was a bit gruff. But he had a nice and wry sense of humour.

The Lord alone knows how and when a Norwegian woman would marry a Sicilian man!

My beloved mother met Astrid on one of Mum’s visits from the U.K. to the U.S.A. These two fabulous women “hit it off” immediately.

Michael and Cindy Tourville also attended St. Christopher’s. They were then a young and fairly newlywed couple, with two young sons.

As it happens, they lived right next door to Dominic and Astrid.

Twenty eight years later, Michael Tourville has written an affectionate and moving account of his (and Cindy’s), mysterious and grace-filled encounters with Astrid.

It’s a fabulous tale, one that gives me Goosebumps as I remember the fabulous Astrid.

Here is the publishers “blurb” re Michael Tourville’s book:

A Promise to Astrid

By Michael K. Tourville

A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose that’s not immediately evident. A car accident leaves a family in a predicament, and triggers a series of remarkable events. When their elderly neighbor Astrid comes into the picture, everything changes. It’s the least of the family’s expectations that her involvement will impact the rest of their lives. Astrid seems to have all the answers and promptly sets her plan into action. With wisdom, intuition, and maybe a little bit of help from above, she makes everything turn out just right. But that was only the beginning….

A very engaging narrative, this surely is one of those inspirational stories that shouldn’t be missed. Emotional, humorous, and a little bit mysterious, it’s a short story well worth reading. Some things you just can’t explain. There are bigger things at work, beyond our understanding. Accept them with trust, and be grateful. And have faith that good things will happen.

The book is self published via

http://www2.xlibris.com/

(Go to Bookstore and then enter Tourville in the Search feature).

It’s just the book to purchase as a gift to that person in your life who has everything, yet needs something more.

About Me

I am from a blue collar background in Bristol, England, and was educated in the days of the 11+ system.
I am one of nine children. My eight siblings live in England.
After school I was first a banker; then a seminarian; then an Episcopal Priest.
I trained for ordained ministry at St. John's College, Nottingham, U.K; and the University of Nottingham from which I was graduated with the degree Bachelor in Theology.
I had 30 years of parish ministry in Massachusetts. (Fitchburg, Chicopee, Pittsfield and Cambridge).
Now retired, I live in Sarasota, FL.
My mantra: - "There is no secular world".